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| Three times the charm for Pakistan |
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Thursday, November 05, 2009
By Abdul Ahad Farshori
KARACHI: The first good news for a Pakistani sports fan came at around nine o'clock on Tuesday evening when the Pakistan hockey team defeated France 4-2 in an encounter of the ongoing Hockey World Cup Qualifiers.
Next up was an eagerly awaited win over the Kiwis in the cricket series in Abu Dhabi, where the Greenshirts outclassed New Zealand with a 138 run victory followed by news almost unbelievable for a tennis fan - Aisam-ul-Haq beating Federer in a doubles match at the Swiss indoor open.
It was a Tuesday reminder for Pakistan that we still have heroes in sports.
In Lille, France, Sohail Abbas dominated the proceedings against hosts France when he scored two goals in the 4-2 win, taking his tally in the qualifiers to five.
In cricket, there were fireworks from Afridi and Akmal that took Pakistan to a fighting total of 287-9. Both of them milked New Zealand's bowlers to all parts of the park and helped Pakistan - once at a hapless 0-2 - to score a mighty 287 in the given overs.
Afridi romped through the Kiwi bowling to score 70 off just 50 balls, smashing three sixes and four boundaries whereas Kamran Akmal gave Pakistan's innings the final flourish with a belligerent 43-ball 67 laced with four sixes and five boundaries as Pakistan ran riot - making 107 in the last ten overs.
That Pakistan were routing New Zealand in the first face-off since the infamous semifinal loss in the Champions Trophy seemed like the world to the World Champions' fans.
Afridi also shared the honours in bowling with Razzaq, Umer Gul and Saeed Ajmal as they all got two wickets each.
Over in Lille, after back-to-back victories against Italy and Russia with an identical 5-0 margin, the Greensticks faced some resistance from tournament hosts but Sohail Abbas's double strike ensured that Pakistan remained unbeaten in the tournament.
With five goals so far to his name in the tournament, Sohail Abbas made sure that they remain on track for a place in the final which will be confirmed if Pakistan overcomes Japan, who is seeded second in the tournament, on Thursday (today).
The last and maybe the best news came from Basel, Switzerland when Pakistan's Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi along with USA's James Cerritani brushed aside Roger Federer and his Swiss compatriot Marco Chiudinelli 6-4, 6-3 in a doubles match at the Swiss Indoor tournament.
At first, it was very hard to believe that Roger Federer was serving to Aisam (our Aisam), and even if you are able to digest that, the score line of the match seems to give a shock as the Pak-American duo was almost leading throughout their straight set win.
Most people were concentrating on the cricket match but for a few tennis fans watching Pakistan's only representation on the ATP circuit. along with his partner dominating world No 1 and his compatriot was far more important.
At the end when Federer and Aisam shook hands and talked on their walk back to their seats it felt for a moment that Pakistan tennis has been recognised by the world, beating the World No 1, albeit, in a doubles match, is no small feat, because when Federer plays the whole world has its eyes on the court.
These events capped a glorious day in Pakistan sports with the biggest moments coming from the games which hardly have a local following. A display like this from our sporting heroes reignite the hope (though premature) of Pakistan ruling the world of Sports just as in the 90s when we dominated cricket, hockey, squash, and snooker.
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ISSN 1563-9479 
